It's Time to Show Up

The purpose of Live & Labor is to provide simple teachings on living in the way of Jesus. We seek to answer the question: How should I live? 

We are sitting in a moment where that question seems especially relevant. Last week, I spent a few days in Minneapolis. I stood on the corner where George Floyd was murdered. I saw all of the murals, I spoke to leaders, and I felt the pain of the city. 

Where do we go from here?

How do we prevent another black body from becoming a hashtag? As Christians, what should our responses be at this time?

I don’t have the answers. I have ideas but I don’t have the answers, and I don’t think any of us do. You can’t legislate heart change. You can certainly try to legislate oppression away but I can’t make you see me as human if you don’t have the desire to do so.

My Concern

I am not optimistic right now. I know white Christians are rallying and asking questions. I know they are praying and showing up at protests. I know companies are vowing to root out the racism in their organizations but I honestly just don’t believe it. We are facing a monster that is interwoven into the very fabric of our country. We need hearts to change AND we need systems to change. That is a big ask. 

I pray that I am wrong but what I’ve learned from history doesn’t make me optimistic. I am deeply concerned by some of the things I have heard. As Black Christians are pushing to have our voices heard and get people to agree that our lives matter (which is not the same as joining BLM), the loudest voices in response only want to argue about Critical Race Theory (which no one on the ground is actually talking about). No matter where you fall on the theological/political spectrum (we have sadly and erroneously wed the two) it should not be a challenge for you to say the words: Black Lives Matter.

What Can You Do?

I have been trying to figure out how to distill all of the thoughts and emotions I experienced while in Minneapolis. I wanted to come up with a really neat and clean way to call people to action but I just couldn’t think of anything. While I know people want easy answers, those unfortunately do not exist.

I met a man in Minneapolis named Spike Moss. He’s been on the front lines fighting for justice for over 50 years. In this time Spike has fought cases against police brutality and said no matter how much evidence he had or how many witnesses there were, he’s never won a case. He has also led sit ins and protests during the Civil Rights Era. Spike played a huge role in fixing the conditions the Indigenous People in Minnesota who are incarcerated faced in prison. That is just the tip of the iceberg. He served as our tour guide and historian. Everywhere we went, people would run up to him and had stories that went back decades. When someone asked Spike how he was able to have such a big impact on people he said the answer was simple: he showed up where he was needed.

The lesson is simple: show up. As Christians, we place our faith in a God who showed up for us. Looking at our condition and knowing we would never be able to do enough to save ourselves, Jesus stepped off of his throne and showed up on our behalf. 

We can imitate Him by showing up. When the cameras are gone, show up. When the work gets hard, show up. There is immeasurable value on the ministry of presence, and just being there with people can go a long way.

Yes, we need to dismantle oppressive systems and structures. Yes, we desperately need the kind of heart change that only Jesus can provide. But in order for these things to happen, you first have to show up.

I don’t get the option to bow out of this fight. If you do, I pray you won’t take it and that you will continue to show up.